All weather scope mounting base

ABSTRACT

A scope mounting base for supporting attachable and detachable scope clamping and mounting rings such as are currently being used to accurately and reliably support a conventional scope atop the barrel of a sporting rifle has at least one telescope spacing, elevating and basing adapter mounted on the rifle barrel and coacting portions of the usual clamp-on-type scope mounting rings, and the like. The adapter embodies an elongated, substantially diamond-shaped open-bored see-through collar-type mount or base, whereby to permit selective aiming and feasible use of the customarily employed fixed sights prior to bringing in use the aforementioned telescope sight and zeroing in on the desired target.

United States Patent Krisay Apr. 8, 1975 ALL WEATHER SCOPE MOUNTING BASEE. rt Z3132,fiillliifirlifl'fiii'd RQiEZmZ' Johnstown' 5905 Attorney,Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; [22] Filed: Nov. 23, 1973 Harvey B.Jacobson [2|] App! No.: 418,195

R l t d U S A r D [57] ABSTRACT 63 e f e pp canon am A scope mountingbase for supporting attachable and l f; of May detachable scope clampingand mounting rings such as an one are currently being used to accuratelyand reliably support a conventional scope atop the barrel of a:.|l1.tS.CCll. 4 po g ifl h at east one t l ope pacing ele- [58] Fie'ld250 vating and basing adapter mounted on the rifle barrel 0 re 5 andcoacting portions of the usual clamp-on-type scope mounting rings, andthe like. The adapter embodies an elongated, substantiallydiamond-shaped [56] References cued open-bored see-through collar-typemount or base, UNITED STATES PATENTS whereby to permit selective aimingand feasible use of l,l42.665 6/1915 the customarily employed fixedsights prior to bringing 3.930 9/l956 in use the aforementionedtelescope sight and zeroing 3463-430 8/1969 in on the desired target.3.555.687 l/l97l 3.671.000 6/1972 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 1 ALLWEATHER SCOPE MOUNTING BASE CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATIONThis is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 252,l 90, filed May ll, I972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a unique concept which pertains, on the one hand, to thecombination ofa sporting rifle with its commonly employed componentparts, scope, scope encompassing rings, and ring mounts, but has to do,more explicitly stated, to ring and scope ele vating spacers or adapterswhich may not elevate the rings and scope, but take the form of collarsand provide see-through mounting adapters atop which the rings areperched and so that the hunter is enabled to use the customary fixedsights preliminarily for general sighting and before switching to histelescopic sight for final zeroing in on an intended target.

As will be hereinafter more clearly apparent the invention pertains tomore than one embodiment and in fact has to do with several embodiments.An aspect of the concept pertains from one point of view to theaforementioned adapters or scope mounting adapters or bases which areinterposed between the barrel of the gun itself and the customarilysupported scope. On the other hand the essence of the invention wouldappear to reside with greater particularity in the scope mountingadapters r bases which lend themselves to use between sporting rifles ofseveral different marketed types, and many and varying horizontal scopesand equally many and varying rings which are mounted on the scopes forpurposes of anchoring the scope in one way or another atop the gunbarrel.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is a matter of common knowledge thatscope mounts in which the rings are provided with seethrough passagesand which permit use of the customarily used fixed sights are of manyand varied styles and types. For background purposes it should be keptin mind that prior art adaptations permit the user of a rifle to sightselectively by way of the customarily fixed peep sights or equivalentsights and scope sights. In prior art adaptations such devices have beenemployed so that an opening permits use of a peep sight such as isnormally carried by a conventional rifle without removing the telescopictube or sight. Then, too, there are adaptations in the prior art wheremounting blocks are permanently affixed to the rifle in such a manner asto not interfere with normal utilization of the customarily fixedsights. One example of an adaptation is shown in a patent to Paul D.Williams, U.S. Pat. No. 3,671,000. Other adaptations are revealed in themounting means for rifle telescopic sights in Irving Rubin et al., U.S.Pat. No. 3,463,430 and Jack Joseph, U.S. Pat. No. 3,555,687. Then, too,and if desired, for further background purposes reference could be madeto Jessie T. Ivy, U.S. Pat. No. 2,763,930, or another patent to JessieT. Ivy, U.S. Pat. No. 2,743,526. Other prior art devices could, but neednot here be cited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention, stated ingeneral terms. to improve upon and reduce the number of parts enteringinto the combination and also the scope mounting adapters or bases, notonly increasing the efficiency of the structure as a whole, but alsorendering the same less costly to manufacture and to otherwise simplifyfactors of assembling and sale.

Another object of the invention is to structurally, functionally and inother ways improve upon the aforementioned prior patents and, in doingso, to provide an adaptation which will meet with the requirements andeconomies of manufacturers, will be endorsed by wholesalers andretailers and will meet the purposes of users of rifles, particularlysporting rifles.

Briefly, an aspect of the invention pertains to a scope ring spacing,elevating and mounting adapter or base characterized by an open boresee-through rifle scope mounting collar; that is, a collar which has abottom side provided with means designed and expressly adapted to bebased and detachably fastened atop a fixed component accessibly carriedby the rifle barrel and embodying a top side having basing and seatingmeans on which clamping means constituting a part of a companion ring orclamp can be perched, attachably and clampingly seated, said basing andseating means having a pair of like ribs marginally provided withlongitudinal outstanding and keying as well as assembling knife-likeedges.

The collar is advantageously provided with walls defining an elongatedsubstantially diamond-shaped opening. Two pairs of the walls arearranged with each pair joined to and extending from one another towarda longest axis of the opening to form a V-portion. One of the V-portionsfunctions to draw an eye of a shooter to the center of associated fixedrifle sights, while the length of the longest axis permits a wide viewof moving game, and the like.

More explicitly, adapter means is characterized by an integral elongatedblock capable of being positioned firmly flatwise and lengthwise atop anunderlying rifle barrel stock supported mounting sleeve. The block hasbolt holes therein for reception and retention of headed hold-down andanchoring bolts. The top side of the adapter has a lengthwisecentralized channel and a median open-ended channel-shaped groove whichextends at right angles to and crosses the channel, the available spacesbeing susceptible of assisting users in coping with friction and takingcare of adjustments which are sometimes necessary for greater accuracy.

Also, and somewhat by way of introduction, it may be specified here thatthe scope mounting adapter or base has been found, as experience hasshown, to accommodate 1 inch and equivalent top mount rings. Itfunctions to detach the scope quickly under field conditions and canutilize open sights without removing, or detaching, the scope. In factit well serves the purposes for which it has been evolved, produced, andsuccessfully used.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspectiveshowing a fragmentary portion of a rifle provided with a scope arrangedin elevated usable position, the mounting rings for the scope, andinterposed see-through adapters which are in operative position betweenthe underlying fixed sleeves and the cleat-equipped base portions of theaforementioned scope rings.

FIG. 2 is a view on a suitably enlarged scale showing an end view of oneof the adapters of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing a modified embodiment of the basemount according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of a base mountaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fourth modification of a basemount according to the present inven tion.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 8, but showing a fifthembodiment of a base adapter according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Attention is directed first tothe form of the invention appearing in FIGS. I to 3, inclusive, and moreparticularly to FIG. 1 wherein the stock of the sporting rifle isdenoted by the numeral 8, the barrel being denoted at 10 and thecustomarily used sleeve-like members, denoted at 12. Similarlyperforming devices which are carried by a rifle barrel vary inconstruction, but the sleeve types shown are popularly in use. Thetelescope, or scope, is ofa conventional type and is denoted, generallystated. by the numeral 14. It will be noted that the encompassing ringsfor the scope are longitudinally spaced and are of duplicateconstruction, and it may simplify the description by merely referring toa single ring and in fact to a single scope mounting adapter or basewhich is interposed between the ring and the underlying and associatedsleeve 12.

It is to be understood that although rings have been illustrated asconnecting the scope to the base mounts, other conventionalarrangements, such as clamps mounted on the scope, may be employed ifdesired.

Considering first the ring, it is a generally common sectional type andis denoted, as an entity, by the numeral 16. The semi-circular upper capportion of ring 16 is denoted at I8, and the concavo-convex cradleportion thereofis denoted at 20. The opposite end portions of portionsI8 and 20 are provided with lugs which are bolted or otherwise securedtogether. A central underneath surface portion of the cradle section 20is provided with an elongated block 22 which has a central clearancegroove or channel extending there through and open at its ends asdenoted generally at 24 toward the left in FIG. I. The longitudinalsides of this block are equipped with duplicate spaced parallel cleatsor clips 26 which are held in place by an assembling and retaining screw28 whose kerfis available and is capable of being turned or adjusted byusing a suitable instrument or pocket coin as the case may be. It willbe noted that the lower marginal edge of each cleat has a turned-in ortoed-in flange 30 which is appropriately beveled for clenching,assembling and retaining purposes, as is substantially self-evident fromFIG. I. The complemental scope ring, spacing, elevating and mountingadapter or base is interposed as shown in FIG. 1 between the associatedand supporting sleeve 12 and the bottom of the grooved block 22, and iscooperable with the turned-in flanges 30 which, in cooperation with thecleats or clips 26, define opposed oriented longitudinal keyways. Theadapter has a body which takes the form of a collar 32 which is of theone-piece construction shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lower orbottom convex portion of this adapter is fashioned into and provides anelongated block-like base 34 which has suitably shaped bolt holes 35therein as brought out with particularity in FIGS. 2 and 3. It will benoticed that the bore, opening, or passage in the main body portion 36,that is the passage 38, is elongated, substantially diamond-shaped andis open at its respective ends. The leftand right-hand ends are straightacross as is seen in FIG. 3. The diametrically opposite upper basing orplate portion of the adapter is fashioned into and provides a pair oflike flat-faced coplanar seating ribs 40 which serve to stabilize thesurface portions of the block 22 which cooperate therewith. There is aportion in-between ribs 40 which is fashioned into and provides anopen-ended frictionreducing space or channel which is denoted at 42 inFIGS. 2 and 3. With further respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 it will be noticedthat there is a median transverse open-ended anti-friction channel whichis also provided as at 44 and which in conjunction with the channel 42assists in making certain and sometimes necessary adjustments. Further,channel 44 receives the conventional downwardly extending element (notshown) associated with screw 28 of a standard scope clamp, and thusprevents forward and backward motion of scope 14 relative to the rifle.It will be further noted that there is a non threaded hole 46 providedin both FIGS. 2 and 3 and which is in alignment with one of the boltholes 35 to permit a screwdriver or the like to be inserted therethroughto obtain access to the bolt hole 35 whenever necessary or desired. Moreparticularly it should be noted that the longitudinal outstanding edgeportions of ribs 40 are provided with substantially V- shapedoverhanging members 48 which constitute keys and which are fittinglyconformingly retained in the aforementioned coacting keyways as evidentin FIG. 1. When the screws 28 are tightened up and the cleats 26 arefastened in place the turned-in flanges 30 engage.

beneath the inclined surfaces of the outstanding or overhanging ribs 48to provide the interlocking and.

clamping association brought out with requisite clarity in FIG. I.

It is within the purview of the concept to make the collars slightlydished at one end, as shown in the modifled forms appearing in FIGS. 4to 7. Both ends are slanted in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, ascan be seen in FIG. 7, for permitting clearance for shell ejection. Thatis, for permitting a rifle cartridge being ejected to clear the adapter.Here the adapters or mountings are conveniently denoted by the numerals50 and 52, and the body portion is of the shape shown at 54 and 55, theopen-ended bore again being a substantially elongated diamond shape incross-sectional shape. In addition to providing ejection clearance,adapter 52 can be turned about its base as desired for proper eyerelief. Due to the symmetrical nature of the scope attachment structurethis turning will not reduce the anchoring strength of the scopemounting on the adapter. Thus, two spans are possible between a pair ofadapters, and proper eye relief is obtainable regardless of the locationof the adjustment turret on the scope. Further, for example, an adapter50 and an adapter 52 may be used together on the same rifle. Hereagainthe central top portion of the body is provided with an open-endedchannel for reducing friction as at 56 and 57. The two flattened spacedparallel keying ribs are denoted at 58 and 59 and are keyed in place inthe same manner illustrated in FIG. 1. The longest axis of the elongatedopening cross section is transverse of these ribs. The top portions hereare conveniently designated at 60, and the diametrically opposite bottomportion is fashioned into a suitable block 62 and 63. The screw accesshole and cutout are designated 64 and 66, respectively, while assemblingand setscrew holes are here designated by the numerals 68 and 70.V-shaped knife-edged ribs are fittingly associated with the keyways intowhich they are interfitted, while transverse channels 75 are provided asabove. It is believed that a consideration of FIGS. 4-7 conjointly willenable the reader to understand the construction of these modifications,and how they are comparable with the basically similar adaptationappearing for example in FIGS. 1 to 3.

As to the modification appearing in FIG. 8, this is basically the sameas the adaptations already described and can be briefly referred to ascomprising duplicate left and right adapters 76 and 78, there being boltholes at 80 in the adapter 76 and a single bolt hole 82 in the adapter78. In either instance, the body portion 84 is preferably of crosssection, and the bottom portion thereof is suitably mounted as at 86 onan end portion ofa uniting or connecting bar 88. As shown in FIG. 8,connecting bar 88 is arranged only at one side of adapters 76 and 78 forproviding suitable clearance to extract a cartridge (not shown) from anassociated rifle. The top construction is the same as the aboveembodiments in that the flat surfaced V-shaped ribs are provided at 90with the knife edge portions overhanging as at 92 to provide the desiredkeying result. A piloting bolt cutout is denoted at 94 at the left, anda hole at 96 at the right. The central groove or channel is denoted inboth instances as at 98 and the cross channel or groove is denotedconveniently at 100. The only difference here is that the two adapters76, 78 are linked or united by the aforementioned connecting bar 88which may be of any suitable length and cross section.

FIG. 9 ofthe drawings shows a modified embodiment 102 which is similarto the embodiment of FIG. 8, but having a continuous body 104 completelyenclosing the base mount to improve the all-weather capabilitiesthereof. Ribs 106 are arranged longitudinally of body 104, and form achannel 108 between them. Transverse channels 110 complete scopemounting arrangements similar to those described above. Screw accessholes 112 are arranged opposite screw holes (not shown) provided in baseportion 114.

It is to be understood that the centralized channels 42, 58, 59, 98 and108 of all the embodiments may be provided with the illustrated frictionincreasing, longitudinal ridges or serrations if desired.

The openings such as 38 are provided with two pairs of walls 116 and118, as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The walls of each pair 116,118 join and extend from one another toward the longest axis a-a of theopening, and form opposed V-portions opening toward one another andsymmetrical about axis a-a. The V- portion formed by pair of walls 116,arranged closest to the base of the mount, draws the eye 120 (FIG. 1) ofa shooter 122 to the center of the fixed sight 124, while the V-portionformed by pair of walls 118, arranged closest to the scope clampingstructure, gives maximum high over the rifle sights. Axis aa provides ahorizontal width sufficient to give a wide view of game 126 in motion,with the elongated configuration permitting a vertical dimension of theopening sufficiently low to the rifle so the shooter will not have totake his face 128, or cheek, off the rifle stock and can use his face asan anchoring point. Thus, the great advantage of an opening according tothe present invention can be readily appreciated.

The height of the various adapters may vary to accommodate differentsize scopes. For example, a higher ring adapter may be used with a 40 mmscope than with a 32 mm scope. Thus, high and low rings, and evenextension rings, may be provided that will selec tively mount on asingle rifle model.

It will be evident from the above description and from the drawing thatthe invention permits satisfactory utilization of so-called standard orconventional top detachable mount rings, such as for instance, Weaver,Tasco, Swift. Universal Co., and the like. With the construction shownone can mount a variety of detachable rings and extension rings on theall weather seethrough type base mount and can utilize high or lowrings, can employ rings which are common on most sporting rifles, makingit unnecessary to buy a complete unit. One can detach the see-throughbase plate or adapter and mount the scope back of the standard blocksusing rings which were attached on the rifle which was originally boughtor rings to attach on the see-through base mount. Then, too, theconstruction is such as to enable the user to detach the scope underfield conditions by simply using an appropriate coin. Detachment andattachment of the scope can be at tained without readjusting the scopeand one can set the rings with the scope having the see-through baseplate on more than one rifle switching the scope back and forth onseveral rifles. In fact, one can use the scope or open sight simply bymoving the head. Wide horizontal and vertical viewing with the aid ofthe open sight is attainable.

The specific embodiments disclosed in my copending application Ser. No.252,I90, are hereby incorporated herein.

It is believed that a careful consideration of the views of the drawingwill enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionand the features and advantages which are inherent therein. Under thecircumstances, a more extended description is believed to beunnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A scope ring mounting adapter for supporting attachable anddetachable scope mounting rings atop a longitudinally extending barrelof a rifle, comprising, in combination:

a. a generally ring-shaped body provided with an opening, said openingbeing a substantially elongated diamond-shape in transverse crosssection and having the longest axis therefor arranged transverselyacross the rifle;

b. means for detachably fastening the body to a barrel of a rifle, withthe opening being arranged for permitting use of other sights of therifle; and

c. means for seating a scope mounting clamp on the body, the means forseating and the means for fastening each having a respective center ofsymmetry relative to the extent of the rifle barrel, with the center ofsymmetry of the means for seating being arranged offset from the centerof symmetry of the means for fastening and permitting reversal of theadapter on the rifle barrel so as to provide eye relief for a shooter,and the means for seating including a centralized channel arrangeabletransverse of the extent of the rifle barrel for receiving a downwardlyextending member of the scope clamp and preventing forward and rearwardmotion of a scope relative to the rifle.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for seatingincludes a pair of spaced, parallel ribs arranged substantially V-shapedin transverse cross section, each rib having a flat seating andstabilizing surface coplanar with the same surface of the other rib andan inclined surface extending away from the flat surface and the otherrib, said centralized channel arranged transverse of the ribs, thelongest axis of the opening being arranged transverse of the ribs, and acentralized longitudinal open-ended channel separating said ribs.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for fastening ischaracterized by an integral elongated block capable of being positionedfirmly flatwise and lengthwise atop an underlying rifle barrelstock-supported mounting sleeve, said block having bolt holes thereinfor reception and retention of headed hold-down and anchoring bolts, anda side of the body opposed to the block and having the centralizedchannel and provided with at least one readily usable screwdriverinserting hole aligned with an associated bolt accommodating hole.

4. The structure defined in and according to claim 1, and, incombination, a second scope clamp spacing, elevating and scope mountingadapter constructed substantially as the first-named adapter, therespective means for fastening beingjoined and united by an elongatedlinking and securing bar.

5. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said substantiallyelongated diamond-shape opening comprises two pairs of walls definingthe opening, each pair of walls arranged joined to and extending fromone another toward the longest axis and forming opposed V- portions.

6. The structure defined in and according to claim 5, and, incombination, a second scope clamp spacing, elevating and scope mountingadapter constructed substantially as the first-named adapter, therespective means for fastening being joined and united by an elongatedlinking and securing bar.

1. A scope ring mounting adapter for supporting attachable anddetachable scope mounting rings atop a longitudinally extending barrelof a rifle, comprising, in combination: a. a generally ring-shaped bodyprovided with an opening, said opening being a substantially elongateddiamond-shape in transverse cross section and having the longest axistherefor arranged transversely across the rifle; b. means for detachablyfastening the body to a barrel of a rifle, with the opening beingarranged for permitting use of other sights of the rifle; and c. meansfor seating a scope mounting clamp on the body, the means for seatingand the means for fastening each having a respective center of symmetryrelative to the extent of the rifle barrel, with the center of symmetryof the means for seating being arranged offset from the center ofsymmetry of the means for fastening and permitting reversal of theadapter on the rifle barrel so as to provide eye relief for a shooter,and the means for seating including a centralized channel arrangeabletransverse of the extent of the rifle barrel for receiving a downwardlyextending member of the scope clamp and preventing forward and rearwardmotion of a scope relative to the rifle.
 2. A structure as defined inclaim 1, wherein the means for seating includes a pair of spaced,parallel ribs arranged substantially V-shaped in transverse crosssection, each rib having a flat seating and stabilizing surface coplanarwith the same surface of the other rib and an inclined surface extendingaway from the flat surface and the other rib, said centralized channelarranged transverse of the ribs, the longest axis of the opening beingarranged transverse of the ribs, and a centralized longitudinalopen-ended channel separating said ribs.
 3. A structure as defined inclaim 2, wherein the means for fastening is characterized by an integralelongated block capable of being positioned firmly flatwise andlengthwise atop an underlying rifle barrel stock-supported mountingsleeve, said block having bolt holes therein for reception and retentionof headed hold-down and anchoring bolts, and a side of the body opposedto the block and having the centralized channel and provided with atleast one readily usable screw-driver inserting hole aligned with anassociated bolt accommodating hole.
 4. The structure defined in andaccording to claim 1, and, in combination, a second scope clamp spacing,elevating and scope mounting adapter constructed substantially as thefirst-named adapter, the respective means for fastening being joined andunited by an elongated linking and securing bar.
 5. A structure asdefined in claim 1, wherein said substantially elongated diamond-shapeopening comprises two pairs of walls defining the opening, each pair ofwalls arranged joined to and extending from one another toward thelongest axis and forming opposed V-portions.
 6. The structure defined inand according to claim 5, and, in combination, a second scope clampspacing, elevating and scope mounting adapter constructed substantiallyas the first-named adapter, the respective means for fastening beingjoined and united by an elongated linking and securing bar.